Springbok Forward Wessels Given Nine-Match Ban for Genital Grab

Rugby player action

Wessels will be unavailable for South Africa's autumn internationals.

South Africa prop Wessels faces a suspension of nine matches for touching Josh Murphy's private parts during the Bulls' United Rugby Championship win over the Irish province.

This event happened in the early stages of the narrow victory in Galway on Friday, with Connacht forward Josh Murphy receiving a 20-minute red card after striking back by hitting Wessels on the head.

Following Murphy reported the incident to referee Mike Adamson, the contact was reviewed by the TMO, who concluded no definitive proof.

The Bulls player remained on the pitch until he was replaced in the later stages of the match.

Although the United Rugby Championship confirmed that the Irish player's 20-minute red card was rescinded by a governing body, Wessels was deemed to have violated law 9.27, which declares:

"A player should not do anything that is contrary to the principles of fair play. Such behavior covers grabbing, twisting or squeezing the genitals."

The panel concluded that the event reached the red card threshold and justified a three-month ban, the minimum ban under World Rugby rules for such an infringement.

However, Wessels' ban was reduced by 21 days because of his good conduct prior to and at the proceedings and his good record.

The forward and the Bulls have the right to appeal, but as it stands, the suspension will rule the 24-year-old out of the South African national team's autumn Tests against the Brave Blossoms, France, the Azzurri and Ireland.

Wessels will also miss the Bulls' URC games against Glasgow, the Emirates Lions and the Sharks, as well as European cup fixtures with Bègles and Northampton.

The prop has won ten international appearances for South Africa and was part of their tri-nations champion squad over the summer.

The Connacht player, meanwhile, is available to face the Irish rivals in this weekend's domestic clash after being cleared.

David Brown
David Brown

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